How to make your own Pesto Creations.

Hello Lovelies,

Today I want to share one of my FAVORITE foods to make!  Pesto!  I love making homemade pesto in my food processor.  It is seriously so easy and takes only a few seconds to make.  Just throw all the ingredients in and grind up until smooth.  There are a million different ways you can make it too.

Let’s start with learning the basics…

Here is a Traditional Pesto Recipe:

• 2 cups fresh basil leaves, packed
• 1/2 cup freshly grated Romano or Parmesan-Reggiano cheese (about 2 ounces)
• 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
• 1/3 cup pine nuts
• 3 garlic cloves, minced (about 3 teaspoons
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

 Now let’s mix it up a bit with a not as common pesto recipe…

Pistachio- Spinach Pesto:

• 2 cups fresh spinach 
• 2 large garlic cloves 
• 1/4 cup fresh grated parmesan cheese 
• 1/3 cup shelled unsalted pistachios 
• 1/2 cup olive oil
• salt & freshly ground black pepper

How to make your own Pesto Creations:

Pesto recipes always includes these staple ingredients….

• Olive oil (add until smooth or about1/4 cup)
• Garlic (depending on the size of the clove about 2-3)

The rest is up to you!

• Choose something  green….basil, spinach, arugula, collard greens, kale, etc.  Use about 2 cups of greens.
• Choose something cheesy…typically parmesan or Italian cheeses, nutritional yeast (dairy-free).  Use about 1/4 cup of cheese.
• Choose something nutty…pine nuts, walnuts, sunflower seeds, pistachios, almonds, etc. Use about 1/4 – 1/3 cup of nuts.

Add-in ideas:

• Avocado
• Cayenne Pepper
• Lemon
• Red pepper – (skip the green all together and this will be the base)
• Sun-dried Tomatoes

I don’t even follow a recipe anymore…I suggest following one to start though to make sure all the flavors balance.  I have a bad habit of adding too much garlic and when you use arugula too. Bam! Now that has a bite.

Suggestions:

• Use unsalted nuts.  If you are using parmesan that will give it enough salty flavor and you can always add in our own.  I have used salted nuts and it gets too salty for me.
• If you use arugula, I suggest balancing it out with something else. I suggest adding spinach/basil or avocado.  Unless you like the bite…then by all means. But don’t say I didn’t warn you. haha
• If you don’t have a food processor, use a high powered blender.  I have made pesto in my Ninja and that works just as well.  It might not be as smooth, but it will still taste just as good!!

Once you make your own pesto you will never want to buy a jar of pre-made pesto again!  There are tons of recipes that you can make with pesto.  It can be a great appetizer, snack, or meal! 

Pesto Recipe Ideas:

• Flatbread pesto pizza
• Stuffed Pepper Chicken Pesto Quinoa
• Pesto Chicken Salad
• Avocado Pesto Pasta
• Baked Chicken topped with Pesto. MM

What are your favorite Pesto recipes?  I would love to hear about your favorite recipes and pesto creations.  Post a comment below!

‘Til next time!

XOXO,

Chelsea Jolene